Burma We have huge naval battle near Rangoon. Allied TF was successfully intercepted. IJN sunk two CL and two DD. One of Japanese DD is in bad shape. Prabably will sunk. Only 3 DDs, CLs and CA is in combat shape. BB Fuso will need to spend probably 4-6 weeks in anchor to remove huge number of sys damage. Also 7 destroyers need yard time

Burma Allied Bombers attack Margui port. DL was 0/0 day earlier so it was blind shot. I had 2 AKE anchored there. One is heavily damage second only eat one bomb and is save. I was luck today BB Fuso with 6 damaged DD was ordered to disband there to pomp out water from damaged DDs before they will sail to Singer. Lucky TF stop one hex from base.

DD Matsukaze i save. Fires where put down by fire crews from Rangoon port. I i manage to avoid subs last naval battle will end without loses.

Second Group of Ki-84r gain combat redidnes. I have now 84 Frank R flying in Burma

I am sending replacement TF north to protect Rangoon. TF will be in position in 48h.

Truk CV Unryu anchored in port. In 2-3 days he will sail north to home.

Carrier division 2 arrive Truk today. Marshal operation is over. Soon enemy will land in Roi-Namor. I will not fight for it.

Battleships I have only six operational BBs right now. 4 BB are with KB1 in Ambon area 2 BB are with KB2 in Truk 3 BB are in Japan during repairs (two need 60 days each, last 15 days) 2 BB are in Singer during repairs(60 and 20 days)

Global map. With major allies offensives. Territory behind sand line is still in Japanese hands with few major strong points like Rabaul, Peneope or Kusaie. But i will not fight for that territory. Only job for troop there is slow down enemy and die to be reborn elsewhere.

We are on 27 January right now. Big catch up report later today or tomorrow

I just waiting for turn from Docup. It will be combat debut of Ki-84r. 120 Franks will sweep enemy base. I hopping for good result. Enemy base is defended by ~100 planes but none of them can go above Frank (some Hurricane, P-40, P-51A etc)

I know we cant compare today and old wars in 1:1 but look at this telegram from 15 September 1939(two days before USSR invade Poland). Look at this like interesting historical fact

The German Ambassador in the Soviet Union (Schulenburg) to the German Foreign Office

I saw Molotov at 6 o'clock today and carried out instructions. Molotov declared that military intervention by the Soviet Union was imminent-perhaps even tomorrow or the day after. Stalin was at present in consultation with the military leaders and he would this very night, in the presence of Molotov, give me the day and hour of the Soviet advance.

Molotov added that he would present my communication to his Government but he believed that a joint communiquĂŠ was no longer needed; the Soviet Government intended to motivate its procedure as follows: the Polish State had collapsed and no longer existed; therefore all agreements concluded with Poland were void; third powers might try to profit by the chaos which had arisen; the Soviet Union considered itself obligated to intervene to protect its Ukrainian and White Russian brothers and make it possible for these unfortunate people to work in peace.

The Soviet Government intended to publicize the above train of thought by the radio, press, etc., immediately after the Red Army had crossed the border, and at the same time communicate it in an official note to the Polish Ambassador here and to all the missions here.

Molotov conceded that the projected argument of the Soviet Government contained a note that was jarring to German sensibilities but asked that in view of the difficult situation of the Soviet Government we not let a trifle like this stand in our way. The Soviet Government unfortunately saw no possibility of any other motivation, since the Soviet Union had thus far not concerned itself about the plight of its minorities in Poland and had to justify abroad, in some way or other, its present intervention.

In conclusion, Molotov urgently asked for an explanation of what was to become of Vilna. The Soviet Government absolutely wanted to avoid a clash with Lithuania and would, therefore, like to know whether some agreement had been reached with Lithuania regarding the Vilna region, particularly as to who was to occupy the city.

I must confess that i realy have no plan for Burma. Should i stick in my positions or maybe retreat more south and use troops to protect Thailand coast line.

One i worst things Japanese player can do wrong is not knowing when signal retreat to new positions. I am already longer in Burma than planed.

As addon i would say that i am almost sure that Docup retreat some troops back to India from Burma

If you can defend in spots were he takes big losses for attacking, it can be worth it to hang out for a while there. Where you are now was my favorite defensive line there, where I held much longer than I thought possible. Just make sure you can defend the Tavoy area well and that there is some reserve around Moulmein.

Then about mid-44 move back to Rangoon/Moulmein and jungle areas on that line. Remember that once he gets the B-29 Rangoon is a great base to start knocking out some of your oil/fuel bases, and other industry.

I'd say be in Thailand by 1/45 though. Sooner if there is a breakdown in the defenses of the DEI and oil/fuel are in danger, and the Indochinese/Chinese coasts are threatened.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

As You all known i start producing Ki-84r. So far i can tell it is great offensive plane. No defensive actions so far. I start thinking what is better tactic for Japan in February `44 And i close to confirm that with Frank on-line For Japan it is better to be aggressive. When allies sweep. Usually with P-47 and F4U i happy when i lose 3 planes for one enemy. Average it is 1:4. So to shot down 100 enemy fighters i will lose 400 my own and probably ~150 (KIA, WIA) pilots.

With Frank "r" in last sweeps i achieve average 3:2 kill ratio. (Against P-47, Spits VIII and F4U) So to kill 100 enemy planes i lose ~60 own fighters and it will cost me something like 50 KIA pilots.

Yep, sweep, sweep and sweep and his best fighters will be gone in a month or two if he doesn´t pull back before. You can take the losses but he can´t. With the Frank "R" he won´t have anything to match you until the P47N in 4/45. But those only comes at 100 per month. With your HR most of the allied planes are pretty much useless.

Change HR. Limit to either 2nd best with no restriction on CAP or set 32k max. No reason to play with silly results.

If we decide to do that i will go with 32k rule for CAP and sweep. Why?

Entire goal is to minimize dive effect to realistic level. With 2nd best(without CAP limit) it will not change much. We still will suffer from P-47, Ki-84r sweeps. It will be even worst for Japan. Still none of Jap planes cant CAP that high as P-47 and allied CAP hordes of P-51, Spitfires, and P-38 etc will CAP above them from start.

32k rule is more fair. Both sides will start in the same high. Planes stats will play bigger role. Especially climb. And attacker will still have advantage of entire unit already at 32k while CAP will have to climb. And with experience i have, even best interceptors like Ki-44 or Ki-84r or J2M ( and allied planes also) will be able to climb above sweep with minimal numbers only. SO both sides will have dive opportunities, let say equally. And in this point planes stats like speed, climb, maneuverability and of course pilot stat will play bigger role.

I will wait month or two if Docup not ask me about HR change i will seriously consider proposing it to him. But as i told earlier i think ball is now on Docup side. If he lose few hundred planes during Ki-84r sweeps he will ask me.:) HE know about 32K rule. Both You and JocMeister mention aboyt it in AARs and main forum. I know zuluhour game aslo adopted that rule. It is matter of time that we will use it.

Change HR. Limit to either 2nd best with no restriction on CAP or set 32k max. No reason to play with silly results.

If we decide to do that i will go with 32k rule for CAP and sweep. Why?

Entire goal is to minimize dive effect to realistic level. With 2nd best(without CAP limit) it will not change much. We still will suffer from P-47, Ki-84r sweeps. It will be even worst for Japan. Still none of Jap planes cant CAP that high as P-47 and allied CAP hordes of P-51, Spitfires, and P-38 etc will CAP above them from start.

32k rule is more fair. Both sides will start in the same high. Planes stats will play bigger role. Especially climb. And attacker will still have advantage of entire unit already at 32k while CAP will have to climb. And with experience i have, even best interceptors like Ki-44 or Ki-84r or J2M ( and allied planes also) will be able to climb above sweep with minimal numbers only. SO both sides will have dive opportunities, let say equally. And in this point planes stats like speed, climb, maneuverability and of course pilot stat will play bigger role.

I will wait month or two if Docup not ask me about HR change i will seriously consider proposing it to him. But as i told earlier i think ball is now on Docup side. If he lose few hundred planes during Ki-84r sweeps he will ask me.:) HE know about 32K rule. Both You and JocMeister mention aboyt it in AARs and main forum. I know zuluhour game aslo adopted that rule. It is matter of time that we will use it.

It really does work better, and even though there were moments when Jocke must have been frustrated as the Franks and Jacks did have their good days, it always cam back to Allied quality, numbers and concentration, as it should. It was just more fun for both to have to work at the positioning, guesswork and other tactics rather than just sit back and go at 42k.

_____________________________

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill

DEI Allies undetected land in Lautem and after 3 days of attack mange to secure base. They are now woners of base that can be build up to lvl 9. I am moving more hevy ships to area. To be able to engade him on sea and mybe keep Lautem closed for some time. At lest i hope

Marshals/Salomon's Quiet. I have evacuated Port Moresby. Only few guns and 250 soldiers left there

Docup moving convoys between PH and Marshals. He should soon land in Roi-Namur. Last turn heavy or better say Huge radio traffic is coming from PH. Invasion is coming i think.

I am evacuating everything south Rabaul and South East from Kusaie Island. Only Tarawa will be operational as long as passible and will be my ayes on Pacific Burma I am preparing major air offensive in Burma 250 Ki-84r already in place. I waiting only when pools will have at lest 50 planes so 2-3 days

Docup deliberate in Taung Gyi. My boys holding but soon i will start retreat from base. I want to retreat in order when my troop are still in combat shape but not be forced to retreat

Quiet all over map. Small sweeps and bombing raids but nothing requiring more that single sentence.

I am observing small CV TF in Darvin hex(30-60 planes). I am not sure why Docup have that TF there. I dont think he will try another landing with CV support in DEI. Deep inside i think it is attempt to keep KB in this area and maybe land somewhere else. Sumatra, Indonesia coast??

I will think about that and maybe just in case i will move KB closer to Singer. Very confusing

Near Singer US Sub sunk xAP with troops sailing to reinforce Indonesia cost. Other ships in convoy manage to save 1400 from 1600 troop on ship. In return Es heavy damage enemy sub. Some time ago i learn that it is good to have empty ship in convoy to save troop in such cases.

Last J2M R&D factory repaired. J2M5 will enter production in May. His job will be to support N1K2 and Ki-84r in defense of Empire until A7M2 show.

Another Quiet days. Air ASW sunk allied sub near Kendari. I am moving more subs to potential starting points of allied invasions. With some luck maybe i buy few extra days for reaction. Subs are heading to patrol North Pacific in case of GreyJoy style invasion in North, and toward IO in case of Sumatra invasion. I have some radio traffic in IO that need to be investigated. I have also subs on SE and SW corners of Australia in case Docup will move his fleet from one Ocean to another

Enemy CV TF back to Darwin. 10 ships (~60 planes).

I Burma i am ready to start sweep offensive. Tomorrow 168 Ki-84r will sweep. Day after tomorrow another 168 will repeat. Depending of shape of units i will also try day 3 and 4 sweeps. After that some rest and again sweeps.Rangoon have 200% of required air support that should help.

This Frank seems to be the savior bird for Japan, not looking forward to seeing it.

So far i am happy with it. I only sweep 3 time with "r" but i manage to shot down ~150 enemy planes for lose of 68 Franks in a2a and ~45 pilots. 70 of enemy loses are P-40 and Hurricanes but ~80 planes are Spits, Corsairs and P-47 and F6F - (allies get ~450/month of 3gen figters)

It looks Frank r is fighting equal combat against everything expect P-47 and only when P-47 is on dive(With ppor climb rate at 2k/min he dont have much dives as he nned 20 minutes to climb above frank). When Frank start to dogfight, P-47 is usually outmaneuvered. Spitfire is also good opponent as he is able to avoid many sweeps but other planes like F4U and F6F have trouble with Frank. P-40 have no chance. In last battles P-40 don`t shot down more that 1 or 2 Franks for lose of ~50 planes. I think P-38 can be hard opponent. With 3000+ climb rate, 44k max celling and 400+ speed he can have lot dives when on CAP.